JAMESTOWN -Jamestown: in 1606, Virginia Company of London given Charter to settle in North America…given same rights as English citizens
-original problems- bad location, poor leadership with council.
-starvation- spending too much time digging for gold…not enough time planting.
-John Smith- instilled strict rules- had to farm if want to eat…had the Indians give them corn
-relations died down though…Indians started to refuse to give them food, Smith and settlers took by force. Got a little bit better when John Rolfe married Pocahontas
-Finally the colony discovered the profitability of Tobacco- by 1620, England was importing more than 30,000 lbs of the crop.
-Representative Government: at first, the colonists were ruled as if in military…would not attract many new colonists. (death penalty for crimes, etc.) -Reforms of 1619- The Virginia Company decided to make reforms to government. Instructed governor to consult with colonists on all issues.
-Colonists elected Burgesses- representatives to the government.
-House of Burgesses- assembly which made laws with the governor and his council
-Definition: voters elect representatives to make laws for them
*free, white, male landowners
-Great Charter: reforms of 1619 called this. Represents the history behind representative government- King John and the Magna Carta of 1215, Parliament
-Women in Jamestown: very few until 1619 when the Virginia Company sent 100 women…all quickly married. Women half as likely to die of disease in the colony.
-life hard: had to make everything themselves. Many died in childbirth
-by 1624 only 300 women compared to 1000 men
-African Slaves: arrived early on…maybe 40-60 by 1619. Colonists needed help farming tobacco.
-by 1644, almost 300 slaves lived in Virginia
-some slaves were able to buy their own freedom…some even owned land and voted
-eventually lost these rights as slavery became more widespread.
-The Massacre of Jamestown- The relationship between the NA and colonists was always unstable…traded with each other,but then would fight
-1622 Pocahontas' uncle Opechancanough attacked the Jamestown colonists (pretended to come in peace). Would have been worse if an Indian boy (who had
been converted to Christianity) hadn't warned them. 400 killed outside of Jamestown.
-King James was outraged- decided that too many people had died- took control of the Virginia Company- stockholders lost everything
-idea of Divine Right- God-given right to rule
-represents the trouble James is starting to have in England at the time…Parliament vs. King
-Through all these troubles, colonists still keep coming…England was getting overpopulated, farmers getting kicked off land by rich, for convicts and poor it offered a better opportunity…by 1650 Jamestown was a stable colony with brick buildings and plenty of food
*What obstacles did early colonists have to overcome to make this colony survive? *What signs indicate that the English settlements will be stronger and more productive than the Spanish colonies?
PLYMOUTH
Founding of Plymouth- After two months of ocean voyage, the settlers landed in New England in November, 1620 on the Mayflower. It was too late to plant crops…but they were determined. Had planned to land more South, but were too exhausted from the voyage to go any farther
-the Pilgrims (as they would be called) were there for religious freedom…not for gold or riches like the Spanish and settlers in Jamestown.
-The Pilgrims were known as Separatists in England- they were Protestant but wanted to separate from the Church of England (at the head of which was the King of England)
-background to the Protestant Reformation
-Henry VIII and annulment.
-Separatists believed that the Church of England did not go far enough in its differences with Catholicism. Want services completely different and did not need priest to commune with God
-King would not allow these differences- Church of England for all or jail
-Some moved to Holland, but didn't feel at home there- wanted English customs
-Named their colony Plymouth (had set sail from Plymouth, England)
-realized that they had not landed in Virginia, therefore did not have to follow the Charter agreed upon in England…came up with the Mayflower Compact: Nov 11, 1620. 41 male passengers (both Pilgrims and non) signed the Compact and pledged to unite together to form a political body and make laws for the good of the colony.
*tradition of Government through elected council
-Religious Freedom: announced that any honest man who is peaceful and contributes to the good of the settlement is welcomed
*tradition of religious acceptance imp to American tradition
-Only half will live past the first winter, but feel that they are blessed by God (fields cleared and many natives killed off by Smallpox transmitted by white trappers)…determined to make their new home the most heavenly place on Earth.
-William Bradford becomes the second governor- led the colony for next 36 years.
-Native American Help: by the Spring, the Native American tribe of Wampanoag began to help the settlers -Squanto- had been captured by John Smith expedition, lived in England, and knew language. Could communicate with Pilgrims. Gave them seeds and taught them how to plant and grow American crops. In the Fall, the Pilgrims took three days to give "Thanks" to the Lord for their harvest…Thanksgiving
*Why might the colonies have developed differently?
STUDY GUIDE
TERMS:
Jamestown
Charter
John Smith
Tobacco
Pocohontas
House of Burgesses
Great Charter
Massacre of Jamestown
Plymouth
Pilgrims
Separatists
William Bradford
Mayflower Compact
Wampanoag
Squanto
QUESTIONS:
1. Compare the settlements of Jamestown and Plymouth- purpose of settling, early start, relationships with Native Americans.
2. Why are the House of Burgesses and the Mayflower Compact important in the study of American History?
3. What role did religion play in the founding of Jamestown and Plymouth?
THEMES:
Religious Tolerance
Roots of Self-Government
Relationship with Non-Europeans (Native Americans, Slaves)
Economic Growth
JAMESTOWN
-Jamestown: in 1606, Virginia Company of London given Charter to settle in North America…given same rights as English citizens
- -original problems- bad location, poor leadership with council.
- -starvation- spending too much time digging for gold…not enough time planting.
-John Smith- instilled strict rules- had to farm if want to eat…had the Indians give them corn- -relations died down though…Indians started to refuse to give them food, Smith and settlers took by force. Got a little bit better when John Rolfe married Pocahontas
-Finally the colony discovered the profitability of Tobacco- by 1620, England was importing more than 30,000 lbs of the crop.-Representative Government: at first, the colonists were ruled as if in military…would not attract many new colonists. (death penalty for crimes, etc.)
-Reforms of 1619- The Virginia Company decided to make reforms to government. Instructed governor to consult with colonists on all issues.
-Colonists elected Burgesses- representatives to the government.
-House of Burgesses- assembly which made laws with the governor and his council
-Definition: voters elect representatives to make laws for them
*free, white, male landowners
-Great Charter: reforms of 1619 called this. Represents the history behind representative government- King John and the Magna Carta of 1215, Parliament
-Women in Jamestown: very few until 1619 when the Virginia Company sent 100 women…all quickly married. Women half as likely to die of disease in the colony.
-life hard: had to make everything themselves. Many died in childbirth
-by 1624 only 300 women compared to 1000 men
-African Slaves: arrived early on…maybe 40-60 by 1619. Colonists needed help farming tobacco.
-by 1644, almost 300 slaves lived in Virginia
-some slaves were able to buy their own freedom…some even owned land and voted
-eventually lost these rights as slavery became more widespread.
-The Massacre of Jamestown- The relationship between the NA and colonists was always unstable…traded with each other,but then would fight
-1622 Pocahontas' uncle Opechancanough attacked the Jamestown colonists (pretended to come in peace). Would have been worse if an Indian boy (who had
been converted to Christianity) hadn't warned them. 400 killed outside of Jamestown.
-King James was outraged- decided that too many people had died- took control of the Virginia Company- stockholders lost everything
-idea of Divine Right- God-given right to rule
-represents the trouble James is starting to have in England at the time…Parliament vs. King
-Through all these troubles, colonists still keep coming…England was getting overpopulated, farmers getting kicked off land by rich, for convicts and poor it offered a better opportunity…by 1650 Jamestown was a stable colony with brick buildings and plenty of food
*What obstacles did early colonists have to overcome to make this colony survive?
*What signs indicate that the English settlements will be stronger and more productive than the Spanish colonies?
PLYMOUTH
Founding of Plymouth- After two months of ocean voyage, the settlers landed in New England in November, 1620 on the Mayflower. It was too late to plant crops…but they were determined. Had planned to land more South, but were too exhausted from the voyage to go any farther
-the Pilgrims (as they would be called) were there for religious freedom…not for gold or riches like the Spanish and settlers in Jamestown.
-The Pilgrims were known as Separatists in England- they were Protestant but wanted to separate from the Church of England (at the head of which was the King of England)
-background to the Protestant Reformation
-Henry VIII and annulment.
-Separatists believed that the Church of England did not go far enough in its differences with Catholicism. Want services completely different and did not need priest to commune with God
-King would not allow these differences- Church of England for all or jail
-Some moved to Holland, but didn't feel at home there- wanted English customs
-Named their colony Plymouth (had set sail from Plymouth, England)
-realized that they had not landed in Virginia, therefore did not have to follow the Charter agreed upon in England…came up with the Mayflower Compact: Nov 11, 1620. 41 male passengers (both Pilgrims and non) signed the Compact and pledged to unite together to form a political body and make laws for the good of the colony.
*tradition of Government through elected council
-Religious Freedom: announced that any honest man who is peaceful and contributes to the good of the settlement is welcomed
*tradition of religious acceptance imp to American tradition
-Only half will live past the first winter, but feel that they are blessed by God (fields cleared and many natives killed off by Smallpox transmitted by white trappers)…determined to make their new home the most heavenly place on Earth.
-William Bradford becomes the second governor- led the colony for next 36 years.
-Native American Help: by the Spring, the Native American tribe of Wampanoag began to help the settlers
-Squanto- had been captured by John Smith expedition, lived in England, and knew language. Could communicate with Pilgrims. Gave them seeds and taught them how to plant and grow American crops. In the Fall, the Pilgrims took three days to give "Thanks" to the Lord for their harvest…Thanksgiving
*Why might the colonies have developed differently?
STUDY GUIDE
TERMS:
Jamestown
Charter
John Smith
Tobacco
Pocohontas
House of Burgesses
Great Charter
Massacre of Jamestown
Plymouth
Pilgrims
Separatists
William Bradford
Mayflower Compact
Wampanoag
Squanto
QUESTIONS:
1. Compare the settlements of Jamestown and Plymouth- purpose of settling, early start, relationships with Native Americans.
2. Why are the House of Burgesses and the Mayflower Compact important in the study of American History?
3. What role did religion play in the founding of Jamestown and Plymouth?
THEMES:
Religious Tolerance
Roots of Self-Government
Relationship with Non-Europeans (Native Americans, Slaves)
Economic Growth